HHS awards $383 million to strengthen 988 and behavioral health
New federal grants will support 988, mobile crisis teams, Tribal response, rural EMS and treatment programs, but most projects begin September 30.
Behavioral Health
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Harlingen Behavioral-Health Expansion Lists Sept. 7 Construction Start
A state-registered $17.8 million Tropical Texas Behavioral Health project at 101 W. Loop 499 lists four buildings and a planned construction window ending in January 2028.
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New Orleans mobile crisis team reports 3,769 calls and 39% diversion in 2025
New Orleans’ civilian Mobile Crisis Intervention Unit reported 3,769 calls in 2025, an approximately 17-minute response time and more than 450 calls resolved in the community without transport.
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Juneau mobile crisis program reports more than 250 behavioral-health responses
Bartlett Regional Hospital says its Mobile Crisis Program has answered more than 250 behavioral-health crisis calls since launching in November 2024, with about half resolved without an emergency-department transport.
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North Star Behavioral Health can relocate Anchorage psychiatric beds without new certificate of need
Alaska health officials determined that North Star Behavioral Health may move and reassign existing psychiatric beds and programs among its Anchorage facilities without a new Certificate of Need.
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DC launches centralized office to coordinate school safety
Washington, DC, has launched a centralized School Safety Office to coordinate safety supports, behavioral-health resources and guidance across public, charter, private and parochial schools.
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OneQuest Health opens Louisville outpatient behavioral-health center
OneQuest Health announced July 9 that it opened a Louisville outpatient office offering mental-health and substance-use services for Jefferson County.
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Ohio Medicaid changes prior authorization rules for some behavioral health and substance-use services
Ohio Medicaid’s July 1 threshold-based review system does not require approval for most members to start covered care, but authorization may be needed to continue certain services after annual unit or consecutive-day limits are reached.
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988 lifeline capacity: GAO finds volume up, but answer rates vary by method
GAO’s July 1 report shows 988 call, text, and chat volume rose from 2022 to Sept. 2025, but answer rates—and wait times—differ by method.
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San Bernardino County adopts FY 2026–27 budget: $273.7M priorities, $77.2M safety capital
San Bernardino CA – Supervisors unanimously adopted the FY 2026–27 budget June 9, directing $273.7M to targeted priorities and $77.2M to public-safety capital.
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Syracuse Area Health adds psychiatric care July 15 in Syracuse
Syracuse NE – Syracuse Area Health says Heather Noerrlinger will begin psychiatric care July 15, giving Syracuse and nearby communities a closer option.